Corydoras paleatus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Corydoras paleatus |
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The Corydoras paleatus is a type of catfish. It belongs to the Callichthyidae family. People often call it the blue leopard corydoras, mottled corydoras, or peppered catfish. This fish comes from rivers in Uruguay and Brazil. It also lives in the lower Paraná River basin.
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About the Peppered Catfish
These fish usually grow to about 5.9 to 7 centimeters (2.3 to 2.75 inches) long. Male peppered catfish are smaller than females. Also, their dorsal fin (top fin) and pectoral fins (side fins) are longer.
Where They Live and What They Eat
Corydoras paleatus live in the Amazon basin. They like to eat many things. Their diet includes worms, small crustaceans, insects, and even some plants.
These fish can make sounds! They do this by moving their pectoral fins. Males use these sounds when they are trying to find a mate. Both males and females, and even young fish, make sounds when they are stressed.
When it's time to lay eggs, male peppered catfish are not aggressive. They don't fight over mates or special areas. They use a special "T-position" during courtship, just like many other Corydoras fish.
Did you know that Charles Darwin discovered this fish? He found the C. paleatus when he visited Buenos Aires in the 1830s. This was during his famous trip on the ship Beagle.
Keeping Peppered Catfish in Aquariums
The peppered catfish is a great choice for a home aquarium. It is a strong, good-looking, and peaceful fish. They get along well with other small, calm fish. You can keep them with fish like livebearers, danios, and tetras.
Sometimes, you might see an albino version of this fish in stores. It looks similar to other albino Corydoras types. This fish can grow to about 7.5 centimeters (3 inches). It is also quite easy to breed at home.
Setting Up Their Tank
Peppered catfish like tanks with lots of plants. The water temperature should be between 16 to 24 °C (61 to 75 °F). They can handle cooler water because they come from colder places. However, they don't do well in very warm water. Temperatures above 30 °C (86 °F) are too hot for them.
They enjoy nibbling on algae that grows on floating plants. But they are not special algae-eating fish. The tank lights should not be too bright. They need places to hide, like bogwood, to get away from the light. Areas with many plants are also good. They like darker spots because they are bottom-feeding fish.
What to Feed Them
Their food should be sinking pellets and algae wafers. They also enjoy frozen and live foods. Good choices include bloodworms or daphnia. Sometimes, they might even like blanched spinach. You can attach it to plants or the side of the tank.
You might see them quickly darting to the top of the tank. This means they are taking in air from the surface. They do this to get extra oxygen. If they do this often, it can mean the water quality is getting bad. So, watch for this sign!
Raising Baby Fish
The eggs of peppered corydoras usually hatch in about 96 to 113 hours. This is around 4 to 4.5 days. The average hatching rate for eggs is about 87%. The fish can lay eggs for 20 to 35 days.
Peppered corydoras might eat their own eggs. But they will not eat their living babies (fry). When they first hatch, the fry are very small. They use up the last of their yolk sacs for food. After 1 to 3 days, they start to eat. They can eat tiny organisms in the tank. You can also feed them powdered food.
After about one month, the baby fish start to get rounder. They also begin to show their adult colors. They will look like tiny versions of the adult fish. Young fish reach their full size around one year old. This can change depending on how well they are cared for.
They usually start breeding when they are 8 to 12 months old. Some might start as early as 6 months or as late as 18 months. It can take up to a year for them to lay eggs that will hatch. Sometimes, their first eggs might not be fertile. Albino fish might grow slower and be less fertile. This is often due to inbreeding.
See also
In Spanish: Corydora pimienta para niños
- List of freshwater aquarium fish species
- Siluriformes
